Polyhydroxypregn-7-enes and processes for their preparation



United States Patent M The present invention relates to novel steroids and to processes for their preparation.

In particular, this invention pertains to polyhydroxypregn-7-enes and to methods for preparing the same.

The compounds of the present invention may be represented by the following formula:

E C=O IM wherein R is hydrogen or hydroxy;

R is oxo or (hydrogen or hydroxy);

each of R and R is hydrogen, or taken together the group 3,365,474 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 in which each of A and B is hydrogen or lower alkyl of up to 6 carbon atoms; and R is hydrogen, hydroxy or acyloxy The wavy j denotes the a and ,3 configuration, both singularly and collectively, and both such configurations are included for compounds so indicated. With respect to the hydroxy group in the 6position, this may be either a or ,9, or a mixture of the two isomers may be employed.

The foregoing compounds are useful in promoting growth in animal species. Moreover, these compounds are antagonistic to the action of certain naturally occurring hormones, such as the insect hormone ecdysone, and can be used to effect a disruption in the normal metamorphic development of insect population. These compounds also exhibit progestational properties.

The compounds of the present invention are prepared from a 22-keto steroid via the action of oxygen in base. For example, a 24-norchol-7-en-22-one of Formula II is first treated with oxygen in the presence of a base such as potassium t-butoxide to yield the ZO-hydroperoxide intermediate (Formula III). This intermediate need not be isolated and the basic reaction medium need only be flushed of oxygen, as with nitrogen, and briefly warmed to cause generation of the desired 20-ket0pregn-7-ene (Formula IV).

Treatment of this 20-ketopregn-7-ene thus obtained with manganese dioxide or, alternatively, with 2,3dichloro-5,6 dicyanobenzoquinone then selectively forms the corresponding 6-keto compound (Formula V).

If desired, the 23,3;3-alkylidenedioxy function is hy- A drolyzed with a proton donor such as p-toluenesulfonic acid or hydrochloric acid to yield the corresponding 2 3,3fi-di01 (Formula VI).

B These reactions may be represented as follows:

CH3 CH3 (jDHCOCHa HOOCOCH:

A A O 1 R J in B II B g m H E H 2 OH OH on, em i i= A 0 A l \O/ n \C/ 1 l B v B 5 IV J The preparation of 17a-hydroxy compounds and acylates thereof is accomplished by initial treatment of a compound of Formula IV wherein R is hydrogen with oxygen in the presence of base to form the 17a-hydroperoxide. This is then reduced to the corresponding 170c-hY- 4 method involves treatment of a 22,23-bisnorchol-7-en0ic alkyl ester with dimethylsulfoxide (or other dialkylsulfoxides) under basic conditions to yield the corresponding 23 methylsulfinyl 24-norcho1-7-en-22-one. Subsequent treatment with aluminum amalgam efiects reductive dedroxy compound with zinc and acetic acid and the 6,17asulfinylation with generation of the des1red starting 24- dihydroxy compound is next converted to 6-keto-17a-hynorchol-7-cn-22-one of Formula II. droxy derivative with manganese dioxide in the manner The following examples will serve to further typify the previously described. Acylation of the 17u-hydroxy group, nature of this invention, but as these are presented for the when desired is next accomplished via briefly refluxing, as 10 purpose of illustration, they should not be construed as a for about 5 minutes, the steroidal alcohol in the approlimitation on the scope of this invention. priate anhydride in the presence of an acid catalyst such as Example I p-toluenesulfonic acid. A 14a-hydroxy group is next introduced, when desired, by treatment with selenium dione gram of 1 5 P PY Q Y'Q -Q 3- oxide and the 25,35-alkylidenedioxy group is then cleaved 15 y B- (Obtamed as descflbed as previously described. Those reactions may be represin copen g application Sell 553,041, filed y ented as follows: 1966) is dissolved in m1. of t-butanol and 20 ml. of di- CH CH O XIII In the foregoing, R is hydrogen or acyl.

Requisite intermediates of Formula II may be obtained according to the procedures of copending application Serial No. 553,041, filed May 26, 1966. Briefly, this oxane containing 2.2 g. of potassium t-butoxide. Oxygen is introduced to the mixture at 5 C. to 7 C. until one equivalent has been consumed, and the mixture is then flushed with nitrogen and heated, also under nitrogen, at

from about 40 C. to about 60 C. for 20 minutes. The mixture is then poured into Water and extracted with ethyl acetate. These extracts are dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to give 25,35-isopropylidenedioxy-6,14u-dihydroxy-55-pregn-7-en-20-one, which may be further purified through chromatography on silica.

In a similar fashion, there are obtained according to the foregoing procedure and from the appropriate starting materials: 25,35-isopropylidenedioxy-6,14a-dihydroxy-5apregn-7-en-20-one; 25,35-isopropylidenedioxy-6-hydroxy- 55 pregn-7-en'20one; and 25,35-isopropylidenedioxy-6- hydroxy-5a-pregn-7-en-20-one.

Example 2 One gram of 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy 6,140: dihydroxy 55 pregn-7-en-20-one in 100 ml. of chloroform, which has been distilled over calcium chloride, is stirred for 18 hours at room temperature with g. of freshly precipitated manganese dioxide. The inorganic material is then removed by filtration and washed with hot chloroform, and the combined filtrate and washings are evaporated to yield 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy-14ahydroxy-55-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione, which may be further purified through recrystallization from acetonezhexane.

Alternatively, the following procedure is employed.

A mixture of 1 g. of 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy- 6,l4ot dihydroxy 5a pregn-7-en-20-one in 20 ml. of dioxane and 1.1 molar equivalents of 2,3 dichloro-S,6- dicyano-l,4-benzoquinone is allowed to stand at room temperature for 3 hours. The solid formed during the reaction is removed by filtration and the filtrate is evaporated to dryness. The residue is dissolved in acetone and filtered through 20 g. of alumina to yield 25,35-ispropylidenedioxyl4u hydroxy 5a pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione, which may be further purified by recrystallization from acetonezhexane.

In a similar fashion, 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy-55- pregn 7 ene 6,20-dione and 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy-5a-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione are obtained.

Example 3 One gram of 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy 14a-hydroxy 55-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione is dissolved in 90 ml. of 80% aqueous tetrahydrofuran and 90 ml. of 1 N hydrochloric acid and is allowed to stand for about 3 hours. At the end of this time, the mixture is Washed to neutrality With aqueous sodium bicarbonate and is extracted with ethyl acetate. These extracts are washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaproated to dryness to yield 25,35,14u trihydroxy 55 pregn 7 ene-6,20-dione, which may be further purified through chromatography on silica gel.

In a similar fashion, the following compounds are obtained:

25,3 5, l 4a-trihydroxy-5ot-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione; 25,3 5-dihydroxy-5 5-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione 25,3 5-dihydroxy-5a-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione;

25,3 5,6, l4a-tetrahyd-roxy-55-pregn-7-en-20-one; 25,3 5,6, 14a-tetrahydroxy-5a-pregn-7-en-20-one; 25,3 5, 6-trihydroxy-55-pre-gn-7-en-20-one; and 25,3 5,6-trihydroxy-5 a-pregn-7-en-20-one.

Example 4 To a solution of 500 mg. of 25,35 isopropylidene- 6 hydroxy 55 pregn-7-en-20-one in 5 ml. of tetrahydrofuran is added a solution of 1 N potassium-t-butoxide in 15 ml. of t-butanol and the resulting solution is shaken at 0 C. under an atmosphere of oxygen. After about 15 minutes, the shaking is discontinued and the solution is neutralized to pH 7 with 1 N acetic acid and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracted organic layer is washed with Water, dried over sodium sulfate, and evaporated at 30 C. to yield the Nor-hydroperoxide which may be crystallized from an acetone-water.

A solution of 3.1 g. of this hydroperoxide in ml. of acetic acid is stirred with 6 g. of zinc dust at 25 C. for 12 hours. The mixture is then filtered and the residue washed with ether. The combined filtrate and washings are diluted with ether, washed first with water and then with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over sodium sulfate, and evaporated to dryness. The residue is chromatographed on silica gel, eluting with chloroform: methanol (9:1) to yield 25,35 isopropylidene 6,170:- dihydroxy 55-pregn-7-en-20-one which may be further purified upon crystallization from acetonezhexane.

One gram of 25,35 isopropylidene 6,17u-dihydroxy- 55 pregn-7-en-20-one in 100 ml. of chloroform which has been distilled over calcium chloride, is stirred for 18 hours at room temperature with 10 g. of freshly precipitated manganese dioxide. The inorganic material is then removed by filtration and washed with hot chloroform and the combined filtrate and washings are evaporated to yield 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy 17a-hydroxy 55 pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione which may be further purified through recrystallization from acetone: hexane.

A mixture of l g. of 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy 17ahydroxy 55 pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione, 50 ml. of acetic acid, 25 ml. of acetic anhydride, and 0.5 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is allowed to stand at RT. for 1 hr. The mixture is then quenched in ice-water and extracted with methylene chloride. These extracts are washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The residue is chromatographed on alumina gel to yield 25,35- isopropylidenedioxy 170t-aC6tOXy 55-pregn-7-ene-6,20- dione.

A mixture of mg. of selenium dioxide, 10 ml. of

dry dioxane and 265 mg. of 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy- 17a acetoxy 55 pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione is refluxed for four hours. The reaction mixture is then cooled and filtered. The filtrate is Washed with dilute aqueous potassium bicarbonate and extracted with methylene chloride. These extracts are washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried and filtered through diatomaceous earth. Concentration of the filtrate yelds 25,35 ispropylidenedioxy 140a hydroxy 17m acetoxy-55-pregn-7-ene- 6,20-dione.

In a similar fashion, there is obtained from 25,35- isopropylidenedioxy 17a hydroxy 55 pregn-7-ene- 6,20-dione via the use of selenium dioxide, 25.35isopropylidenedioxy l4u,l7u dihydroxy 55-pregn-7-ene- 6,20-dione.

Treatment of 25,35 isopropylidenedioxy 14u-hydroxy 17a acetoxy 55 pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione with acid as described in Example 3 yields 25,35,14u-trihydroxy-l7a-acetoxy-55-pregn-7-ene-6,20-dione.

In a similar fashion, there is obtained 25,35-dihydroxy- 17a acetoxy 55 pregn 7 ene-6,20-dione; 25,35,14a, 17a tetrahydroxy 55 pregn 7-ene-6,20-dione; and 2535,l7a-trihydroxy-55-pregn7-ene-6,20-dione.

What is claimed is:

1. Compounds of the formula:

wherein R is hydrogen or hydroxy; R is 0x0 or (hydrogen or hydroxy);

each of R and R is hydrogen, or taken together the group in which each of A and B is hydrogen or lower alkyl;

and R is hydrogen, hydroxy or acyloxy.

2. Compounds according to claim 1 wherein each of R and R are hydrogen, R R and R are as therein defined and the hydrogen atom in the 6-position is in the p-configuration.

3. The compound according to claim 2 wherein R is hydroxy, R is oXo, R is hydrogen.

4. The compound according to claim 2 wherein R is hydrogen, R is 0X0, and R is hydrogen.

5. The compound according to claim 2 wherein R is hydroxy, R is 0x0, and R is hydroxy.

6. The compound according to claim 2 wherein R is hydrogen, R is 0x0, and R is hydroxy.

7. Compounds according to claim 2 wherein R is hydroxy, R is oxo, and R is acyloxy.

8. The compound according to claim 7 wherein R is acetoxy.

9. Compounds according to claim 2 wherein R is hydrogen, R is 0x0, and R is acyloxy.

10. The compound according to claim 9 wherein R is acetoXy.

References Cited Karlson et al.: Chemische Berichte, July 1965, pages 2394-2402.

ELBERT L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. COMPOUNDS OF THE FORMULA: 